A 22-year-old man died Tuesday night after being electrocuted during a severe storm in the State College area, according to the State College Police Department. Authorities said the man, whose identity has not yet been released pending notification of his family, was trying to extinguish a mulch fire near a utility pole in the 1500 block of University Drive when he came into contact with an active electrical current. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency responders from State College police, Alpha Fire Company, and Centre LifeLink EMS arrived shortly after 7:15 p.m. The incident occurred as a powerful storm moved through Centre County, bringing wind gusts of up to 80 mph. The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the eastern part of the county until 7:30 p.m.
More than 35,000 residents lost power, and the storm, though brief—lasting around 30 minutes—caused widespread damage, including downed trees, blocked roads, and fallen power lines.
In a statement, police urged the public to stay clear of downed lines and potentially hazardous areas, advising residents to contact 911 or local utility companies instead of approaching such scenes.
As of Wednesday morning, Centre County’s Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania State Police reported no other serious injuries or fatalities linked to the storm.